As winter’s cold permeates throughout Colorado, folks may find themselves craving the warm comfort of soup.
Luckily for those of us in the Denver metro area, local eateries are serving up delicious bowls of soups from around the world right here in the Centennial State. From Mexican Pozole to Polish Orgórkowa, here are seven cozy soups made by small businesses that can take you on a culinary journey without ever leaving town.
Mi Tierra Caliente — Arvada — Pozole (Michoacán style pork and hominy stew)
5350 W 64th Ave., Arvada, CO 80003 | (720)-968-4634 | Mitierracaliente.net
Open 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday
Mi Tierra Caliente owner Ayax Silva said Pozole is a centuries-old soup that’s been made in his native Michoacán, Mexico for hundreds of years.
“It’s a soup that’s been made in Mexico for centuries by the native people,” Silva said. “Tamales were also made by Mexican natives before the Spaniards came to Mexico. A lot of the traditional dishes have been served in Mexico for centuries.
“Every region of the country gives these dishes their own touch, and it changes from family to family,” Silva continued. “With Pozole there are different kinds; red Pozole — which we serve — there’s also white, cream, chicken Pozole. We use dried chili guajillo, made with pork and white hominy in Michoacán style. We serve it with radishes, cabbages, lime and pork chunks.”
Silva said Pozole is such a tradition in some Mexican states that restaurants serving it only operate on Thursdays and going to eat the dish is a family activity. Luckily for those of us in the Denver metro area, Mi Tierra Caliente serves Pozole every day.
Pho Khang — Centennial — 20 Pho Varieties (Vietnamese Soup)
8283 S Akron St. Suite 140, Centennial, CO 80112 | (303)-792-2200 | Pho Khang website
Open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday
Pho Khang Manager Henri Ly said the secret to his restaurant’s pho — served alongside Banh Mi and other Vietnamese staples at the family-owned eatery — is using fresh ingredients and going slow.
“We do not use powder at all,” Ly said. “We use all beef bone and slow simmer for 16 hours. We have six pots in the back. That’s what we’re known for — the broth. It’s a family-owned business; everyone that works here is mom, dad, aunt, grandma.”
Pho Khang also serves lobster pho and vegetarian varieties, along with over a dozen other pho options.
Croc Soup Company — Golden — Broccoli Gruyere Soup
16950 W Colfax Ave., Golden, CO 80401 | (303)-216-2566 | crocsoupcompanymenu.com
Open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday (Closed weekends)
While broccoli and cheese soups — especially broccoli cheddar — abound in the metro area, Croc Coup Company takes that idea up a notch with its broccoli gruyere soup. Made from scratch with fresh ingredients, this soup is sure to keep you warm through the chilly foothill winters.
African Grill and Bar — Lakewood — Palm Nut Soup
955 S Kipling Parkway, Lakewood, CO 80226 | (303)-985-4497 | Africangrilllakewood.com
11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday (Closed Sunday)
African Grill and Bar in Lakewood offers a sampling of African cuisine spanning the entire continent, according to owners Sylvester and Theodora Osei-fordwuo. The restaurant features over a dozen soup varieties including palm nut soup, which originates in west Africa.
“Palm nut soup, also known as banga soup, is made out of the fruit from the palm tree plus other vegetables like onions, ginger and tomatoes added to its preparation,” Theodora said.
Damascus Grill — Littleton — Lentil Soup
1399 W Littleton Blvd., Littleton, CO 80120 | (303)-797-6666 | Damascus Grill Website
Open 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday; 11:30-7:40 p.m. Wednesday; 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sunday
Damascus Grill’s lentil soup has a flavor that literally can’t be found anywhere else in the area. A family recipe, most of the spices used in the soup are imported directly from the Middle East.
The soup calls for all fresh ingredients and is made fresh every morning, taking about three hours to prepare.
The staff at Damascus said they were not at liberty to share which spices go into the lentil soup, calling them a “secret ingredient.”
Pierogies Factory — Wheat Ridge, Littleton — Rosol (Polish Chicken Noodle Soup)
3795 Wadsworth Blvd., Wheat Ridge, CO, 80133 | (303)-425-7421
7961 South Broadway, Littleton, CO 80122 | (303)-797-3649 | pierogiesfactory.com
Both Locations: Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday – Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
While the local favorite might be better known for their pierogies, kielbasa or schnitzel, the Polish eatery also serves up Rosol; a Polish chicken noodle soup served with egg noodles. Rosol is defined by its clear broth and is served at both Pierogies Factory locations, in Wheat Ridge and Littleton.
Cracovia — Westminster — Zupa Orgórkowa
8121 W 94th Ave., Westminster, CO 80021 | (303)-484-9388 | Cracoviarestaurant.com
4 p.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday through Sunday
Polish restaurant Cracovia’s pickle soup — or Zupa Orgórkowa — is a family recipe from owners Maria and Lester Rodzen’s home kitchen. Head Chef Jutta Dellert says Orgórkowa is “Everyone’s favorite” in the winter months and that to her knowledge, Cracovia is the only restaurant around that sells the traditional Polish soup.
“We use homemade pickles and we grind them,” Dellert said. “We sauté carrots, parsnip, leeks, onions and celery, and add that to a vegetable broth with pickled, flavored with vegeta; a polish spice. Then we add heavy cream.”
Dellert says the soup — along with everything else at Cracovia — is made from scratch.
“Nobody cooks from scratch anymore, but that’s what we do here,” Dellert said. “We do sauerkraut from scratch, all out sauces and everything. That’s what I love about this restaurant. It takes me four hours to make the goulash.”
Orgórkowa takes about an hour and a half to two hours to prepare, Dellert said — but that’s mostly thanks to chopping the vegetables.